Asher's POV

The wedding was a month away, but my mom was already freaking out over the arrangements and stuff.

She wanted to take Esme dress shopping, while I had to buy the wedding band.

My phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.

It was Esme.

"Esme, hi. How have you been?" I asked.

"I'm good. How are you?" she asked.

"I'm good too. How are your siblings?" I asked.

"Those little shits are good. How are Aaron and your parents? Did you guys have any problems with shipments?"

"My parents are good. Aaron's good too. He's head over heels for his girl tho. He's going out on a date today."

"Lucky him."

"Speaking of dates, it's been a while since we last went out together. So, how about we take a detour to a diner I know, and then have a picnic?"

"I don't know. I have a meeting at twelve I gotta be there. It's important."

"Well, it's only eight in the morning. We have plenty of time, don't you think? I promise to get you back to your castle before midnight," I joked.

"Alright. I think I can make it. I'll be there in thirty," she said, ending the call.

Going downstairs, I ate breakfast, and then told my parents about my plan, and sat there talking till Esme arrived.

Right on the dot, we heard her knock, and mom went to answer the door.

My mom had her hand around Esme's waist, and Esme had a soft smile on her face, as they discussed something.

She then greeted my father with a rather awkward hug and then turned to me.

"Alright. Just text me or call me if you guys need anything, alright?" I said and left with her.

"You seemed uncomfortable with my dad hugging you. You can always say no if you don't like it, you know that right? They won't think anything," I said, and she just sighed in response.

I opened the door for her and then got in myself. Once I was seated, I heard her sigh again, and I turned around to look at her.

She had her eyes closed, and had her hands over them, making it look like she was lost in thoughts.

"Esme, you alight?" I asked, placing my hand on her thigh.

She sighed again. "It's just that, as much as I crave physical affection, at times I subconsciously pull away from it. I'm not used to this Asher. All I know is people leaving me. Who knows, even you might leave me. And I don't blame you for that. So I just make sure I don't get attached to people. But don't tell your dad anything. If I feel uncomfortable, I'll take a step back myself, than hurt someone else," she said and turned her head around to stare out the window.

Getting the cue that she wouldn't talk even if I made an effort, I started the car. Slowly taking her hand into mine, I pressed a kiss to her knuckles and held her hand for some time. Weaving our hands together, I held on, and that was when I noticed the small scars scattered across her fingers.

I looked up to see her already looking at our joined hands. Following my line of sight, she met my eyes, before turning away again.

"What happened?" I asked. "Nothing. Just dumb kid stuff," she replied with a shrug.

Arriving at the diner, I got out and opened her door, before leading her in with my hand around her waist.

I picked a secluded table to give ourselves privacy and sat beside Esme.

"What'd you wanna eat?" I asked.

"Anything," she said with a shrug.

The Esme I saw in the morning was gone. She was cold, indifferent, and blunt. I'm not gonna lie, I was hurt. I didn't like seeing her like this. The feeling that I did something wrong kept nagging me.

All these thoughts were running in my head when I heard the glass shatter.

"Duck," Esme said, pulling me under the tables, and pulling out her gun at the same time.

"Call your dad, give him our location, and ask for backup," she said, pulling her hair up into a ponytail, before rolling on the floor under another table.

I called dad, and then Lucas, my commander.

"Don," he answered. "I'm under attack. We're in the diner I always come to. Hurry up and bring the others with you," I said, ending the call immediately, only to find that Esme was nowhere in my line of sight.

"Shit," I cursed, rolling out from under the table, and standing up.

Clocking my gun, I shot down four of them, before walking around trying to find Esme.

"Fucking bitch," I heard someone curse and followed the voice into the kitchen, where Esme was wreaking havoc.

She was pulling her punches and kept sending the dishes and cutlery flying all around.

Now, I couldn't let her fight alone. So I jumped in, right beside her.

"Duck," she yelled, swinging at a guy with her dagger. Seeing another trying to get to her, I picked her up and swung her around, her legs kicking him into paradise.

Pulling her behind me, I shot him clean in between his eyes, only to turn around and find her pinning someone to the ground.

"Who sent you?" she yelled into his face, her gun down his throat. He struggled to say something.

"Speak up bitch," she seethed, pistol-whipping him, and choking him as his cheekbone started to bleed.

I pulled her up from him, and she let go after giving his nuts a kick that could knock out a person.

I felt the pain in my ball sack...

Pulling him up by his hair, I bent down to his height and pulled out my lighter.

"You have five seconds to tell me who the fuck sent you, or you're gonna wish that she killed you," I spit out.

"Go to hell," he said, spitting blood out near my feet, and the next thing I know is him hitting the floor.

Esme kicked the hell out of that guy.

"Esme, Esme, listen to me, princess. We need him. We have too many enemies. We need him to figure out who did this," I said, pulling her away, as she struggled in my arms.

"No, you fucking don't need him. It's Lincoln fucking Davidson," she seethed, almost prying my hands from her waist.

"Alright. Calm down. Let me handle this. You're safe with me," I said, and she stopped struggling and slumped to the floor.

The slap had the guy's head turning to the side.

"So fucking tell me why he sent you. I'm sure you ain't paid enough to die for him. So speak up bitch," I said, pulling his head back by his hair.

"He wants her. And he wants your throne. Her being engaged to you was the last straw. Now he has another reason to come after you," he said, breathing heavily through the pain.

"Here's what you're gonna fucking do," Esme intervened.

"You're gonna run back to him like a dog, and say that, I am not the slightest bit interested in him. He can suck on his own dick, and choke on it, but I'll never spare him the time. You tell him exactly this. You understand?" she asked, with her dagger on his throat.

Standing up, I gulped. Seeing her being so bossy was hot.

And I was having a hard-on like a pubescent teenager...

It was fucking embarrassing...

"You understand?" she asked again. "Yes. Yes, I understand," he whimpered.

"Pussy," she scoffed, getting up and kicking him in the balls, again.

"Get your bitch in line," he said, looking at me.

Big mistake...

Squatting down again, I said, "She will speak however she wants to you. You are a ball-less bitch and you wanna talk about her? Watch your mouth when you speak about my girl or any woman next time," digging my knife into his thigh.

His screams were music to my ears.

"How are we gonna clean this up?" she asked.

"My men are already here. They'll clean up. I own this diner too. So it wouldn't be a problem," I said.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I asked, pulling her into me by her waist.

"Yeah, I'm fine. That bitch can't take 'no' for an answer. He's been behind me for years," she scoffed.

"You're safe princess. I promised to take care of you didn't I?" I asked, kissing her forehead.

She slowly nodded before prying herself away from my grip.

Crossing the room, she leaned on the wall from across me and slumped onto the floor, her coldness seeping back in.

Oh, what I would do to see her smile again...

As I was thinking, Lucas came in and looked around at the damage.

"Esme, princess, can you come here for a second please?" I called her.

"Lucas, this is Esme, your future Donna. Esme, this is Lucas, my commander," I introduced them to each other.

"Donna," he said, bowing in respect.

"Please call me Esme. You can use the formalities when we have company," she said, giving him a smile.

"Pleasure to meet you, Esme," he said, giving her a bro-hug.

"The pleasure is all mine," she said.

"Ash, I'll clear up here. You guys carry on," Lucas said.

"Thanks, Luke," I said, leading Esme out.

"You alright princess?" I asked her. "I'm fine," came her reply.

Esme's POV

When I entered my room, I found my brother and sister hogging my room.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked no one in particular.

"So, how was your date?" Lily asked.

"Date?? What date? We went to a diner and ended up getting shot at. End of story," I shrugged, removing my jewelry.

"Shot? Who was it?" Gab asked. "Lincoln fucking Davidson," I said, entering my closet, hearing them cussing him out in all languages known to them.

"For fucksake, why the fuck can't he fucking forget you?" Gab asked.

"One, I don't know. And two, that's too many fucks in a sentence," I said pointing a finger at him.

"Are you gonna tell dad?" Lily asked.

"And? What's he gonna do? He'd prolly try to ship me off with him to end the conflict. Asher's got it handled," I said, lying on the bed, between the both of them.

"Asher huh?" Gab smirked. "Shut up. I leave the minute things clear up. Nothing more," I said.

They snuggled into me, and we all fell asleep.

A/N: Hey lovelies,  how are you all doing?? I hope you're all doing great...

Thoughts on the chapter??

How was the fight??

He freaking called her 'my girl'... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...

What do you think is gonna happen next??

Be happy, spread love.

Until next time,

Love,

Jeff ❤❤